10 Things to Do in Nashville in October

The best thing to do is to have a rough idea of what activities are available in a place before you visit. That's why I'll tell you about the things to enjoy on a visit to Nashville in October.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Nashville in October

Lower Broadway Nashville | ©Ucumari Photography

October is a great month to travel within the United States, as it is a season of cultural activities all over the country. In Nashville there are also plenty of events during this autumnal month and so the best things to see and do in Nashville during this time of year are a little different to what you would find a couple of months later.

I invite you to keep reading this post, as I have compiled plans that can keep you entertained from the beginning to the end of your trip. Which will allow you to make the most of Music City and probably leave you wanting to return in the near future.

1. Visit Cheekwood Harvest or Belmont Mansion

CHEEKWOOD GARDENS| ©Citizen of Two Worlds
CHEEKWOOD GARDENS| ©Citizen of Two Worlds

Fall Harvest is a very important element of American culture when it comes to the arrival of autumn and if you're visiting Nashville during October you have the opportunity to visit the Cheekwood Harvest and this is basically the annual celebration of an autumn festival held at the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

The site is a field that is usually filled with over 5000 chrysanthemums at the height of autumn and several acres are also filled with thousands of pumpkins for local people to choose from.

This event is usually accompanied by live music performances as well as a variety of crafts and local produce on offer so visitors can do some shopping for those autumnal favourites.

It's also worth bearing in mind that this is an activity that can only take up half of your day, so it's a good idea to visit Belmont Manor before or after the event. Especially since it is one of the most important attractions in Nashville. Also for the fact that during the month of October the entire house offers a tour that focuses on showcasing the traditions that were carried out at this time of year by its owners before the Civil War.

Buy your all-day ticket to the Belmont Mansion in Nashville.

2. You might also want to check out the Fall Family Fun Pumpkin Festival after the zoo

Nashville Zoo| ©Stephen Yeargin
Nashville Zoo| ©Stephen Yeargin

On the other hand, if you're looking for a closer look at the experience of visiting a farm cob a Harvest Fall then you should check out the one at Lucky Ladd Farms. This option is different from other alternatives because you can experience events such as getting lost in a corn maze or chomping on a caramel apple.

You'll even get to eat homemade corn at a fair that has more to do with real country life than just pumpkin picking in a field decorated in autumn style. If you want to visit this place you should know that it is open during the whole month of October.

Just as in the previous case, you should know that it is an activity that will not take up your whole day and that is why I advise you to go before or after visiting the Nashville Zoo. Especially since both ideas are among the best things to do in Nashville with kids and you'll be creating a day fully focused on children's entertainment.

3. Enjoy the Nashville Whiskey Festival

Wine| ©AU Magazine
Wine| ©AU Magazine

The weekends in early October are a very important time for Nashville as the city's annual whiskey festival is usually held during these days. It is a significantly large event where fans of this alcoholic beverage have the opportunity to enjoy the best brews from around the world.

At the same time this event is a good occasion to make a proper comparison between American whiskies, the distinctive bourbon that is so representative of the state of Tennessee and also Scotch whisky.

The Omni Nashville Hotel is usually the venue for the event, but may be moved to another location depending on visitor expectations and the number of whiskey producers joining the event.

On the day you decide to attend the event, it is recommended that you take part in one of the other bestthings to do in Nashville at night and one of them is the nighttime trolley tours. These will take you to a few bars where you can continue the party on your own terms.

4. Take part in Artober Nashville activities

Nashville Sightseeing Bus| ©cultivar413
Nashville Sightseeing Bus| ©cultivar413

Artober Nashville is a celebration organised by the city council with other community arts institutions that aims to showcase the most innovative offerings of local artists throughout the month in Music City.

It is one of the largest public arts festivals in the South, and throughout the month there are visual and performing arts events. There are also performances of music, dance, film, academic lectures and a host of other activities aimed at bridging the gap between the average consumer and local art.

The event takes place throughout the city and the schedule of activities changes every year. However, it is also a reality that many of the activities take place in downtown Nashville, as many museums and galleries are located in this section of Tennessee's capital city.

That's why Nashville' s best tour bus rides can be an excellent activity to accompany the days you intend to follow the itinerary of this important local event.

5. Drink local brews at Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest| ©Denise Mattox
Oktoberfest| ©Denise Mattox

One of the great hallmarks of October is the fact that Oktoberfest is already an event that happens in different parts of the world. In turn, Nashville being a city with such an important beer culture is no exception to this rule.

The event as such usually changes its dates according to the weekends that exist for October each year. However, the most common is in the middle of the month. At the same time, the festival extends along 4 different streets of the historic district known as Germantown, which since the 19th century has been the preferred area for German migration in the city.

There is live music, lots of food representative of German gastronomy and what abounds the most are all the proposals of local breweries. These have turned Nashville into a very important destination in the United States when it comes to craft beer.

City tours in Nashville are a good activity to enjoy at this time of the year because they can be an activity that allows you to continue getting to know the world of bourbon, beer and barbecue in the best Nashville style. This extends the joy of celebration that defines this community's Oktoberfest.

Enjoy great barbecue, beer and bourbon at the Nashville Adventure

6. Have fun at Jack Daniel's World Championship Intvitational Barbecue

Barbecue| ©Pier Giulio Caivano
Barbecue| ©Pier Giulio Caivano

Jack Daniels is one of the world's greatest representatives of bourbon and is undoubtedly one of the most important elements of the culture of the state of Tennessee as well as the city of Nashville. So, the bourbon barbecue championships organised by this famous bourbon brand is something you should not miss if you visit Nashville during the month of October.

This festival only lasts two days and it is usually held during the second or third weekend of October. You should know that it is a combination of the two great passions of Tennesseans, bourbon and barbecue in the best Tennessee style.

Please note that the event is not held in Nashville as such because it is held at the Jack Daniels Distillery and this means that you would have to travel to Lynchburg. However, the experience is entertaining and this tour is among the top 63 things to do in Nashville knowing that either way a guided tour of the Jack Daniels distillery is something you should do when visiting this city.

Nashville tour to the Jack Daniel's distillery

7. Enjoy the latest sessions of Music in the Vines

Arrington Vineyards| ©Denise Mattox
Arrington Vineyards| ©Denise Mattox

From April to October, Arrington Vineyards hosts a series of concerts known as Music in the Vines. Basically, these are free-to-attend events that allow you to enjoy live music. This is as long as you consume alcoholic beverages on site as well as one of the many gastronomic offerings. These usually take place during the weekends of the summer season as well as in early autumn.

Please note that these concerts are usually focused on country music, although it is also common for jazz bands as well as bluegrass bands to perform. Which is another genre of music that has a significant cultural connection to Nashville's history.

My biggest piece of advice is to get a safe transportation alternative from downtown Nashville that offers a round-trip transfer to and from Arrington Vineyards. And anyway, you have to know that this is an event that would only take up the second half of your day. That's why the best tours in Nashville are a great way to fill your morning and complete your sightseeing tour of the city if you're short on time.

8. Go shopping at the Southern Festival of Books

Southern Festival of Books| ©Robert Hudson
Southern Festival of Books| ©Robert Hudson

This literary festival is one of the largest of its kind in the southern United States. Basically, it's a free event that takes place every October at War Memorial Plaza as well as the Main Public Library.

The specific activities change from year to year, however, the most common is that more than 200 leading authors from the US publishing world are present at the event. There are also autograph sessions as well as panel discussions and press conferences for some of the literary sagas launching their new books that have been eagerly awaited by local consumers.

It's certainly one of the most important activities of the month in this city and if you're left wanting to further explore Tennessee's history and cultural scene then visiting the event is a good opportunity to continue your day by taking in some of Nashville' s best museums. Most of them are located in the Downtown area of the city which is quite close to the festival area.

Check out the best museums in Nashville

9. Take a haunted bar crawl on Halloween night

Nashville Bar| ©Kinolamp
Nashville Bar| ©Kinolamp

Halloween is another of the great American celebrations during the month of October and in Nashville there are many different ways to enjoy it. One of the alternatives would be to go trick-or-treating in one of the neighbourhoods around the city centre. However, this is only a good alternative if you are travelling with children, as it is a children's activity.

So an activity that is much more appropriate for an adult tour group is to participate in a tour of Nashville's two haunted bars. These abound all over the city, knowing that this is a place with over 200 years of history.

Keep in mind that the best ghost tours in Nashville will be a great way for you to experience some of the most entertaining pubs in the city on one of the scariest nights of the year. Plus, it's the perfect activity to get you in the festive mood so you can continue drinking the rest of the night away at the establishments of your choice.

Nashville's haunted bar crawl in search of spirits

10. Do some Flyboarding while the weather still allows

Flyboard| ©Morteza F.Shojaei
Flyboard| ©Morteza F.Shojaei

Even though October marks the advance of autumn, there are still plenty of activities that were enjoyed throughout the summer. For exactly this reason having a Flyboard trip to one of the city's nearby lakes is a good way to seek entertainment if you like extreme activities.

The ones to Percy Priest Lake are one of the best. Also, you should know that until mid-October you'll have the perfect weather to enjoy the sunshine while the lake water isn't cold enough to make it an uncomfortable experience.

Note that Flyboarding has become one of the most entertaining water activities for Nashville locals so it's a good idea to experience it if you're visiting the city until mid-October.

Temperatures in Nashville in October

Nashville Afternoon| ©Lynn Josse
Nashville Afternoon| ©Lynn Josse

During the month of October in Nashville you may still encounter relatively high temperatures. Highs climb to around 22°C (72°F) while lows usually reach 10°C (50°F).

Nashville's October tourist crowds

Streets on Halloween| ©BartShore
Streets on Halloween| ©BartShore

October is a low tourist month in Nashville with the exception of the Halloween weekend which attracts a larger number of tourists looking to party in the city's bars and nightclubs.

Prices in Nashville in October

Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

October is a relatively cheap month to visit Nashville. This is at least compared to the prices during the peak tourist seasons of December and the summer months.

What to pack for a visit to Nashville in October?

Luggage| ©JamesDeMeyer
Luggage| ©JamesDeMeyer

One thing you shouldn't forget to bring to Nashville is a mackintosh, as there is a good chance that it will rain during your trip, as autumn is a season of constant rain.

I also advise you to bring comfortable shoes so that you can walk around the city centre and above all, don't forget to bring clothes appropriate for all kinds of social settings.